LEGACY RECLAIMED

Chapter 4

Adrian cursed under his breath as a surge of adrenaline washed through him. He bolted down the street, weaving through parked cars and abandoned dumpsters. The dim street lights cast fleeting shadows that dance like spectres in the night.

The men were determined, their footsteps echoing in the cold night air. A crack of a gunshot echoed through the night; the bullet struck a steel container, missing Adrian. His mind continued to race as he scanned for an escape route.

He found an open space where he rushed towards, hoping to disappear from the men, only to find himself at the dead end of a street.

“Damn it,” he muttered in frustration.

As he thought of running, a distant hum of the engine grew louder, with a black SUV screeched at the corner. Its headlights cut through the darkness like twin blades. Adrian barely had time to process what was happening.

The door swung open, and two men in black alighted from the car and pulled out their guns, opening with precision. The first shot dropped one of his pursuers instantly, while the others scrambled for cover.

Adrian hid for his life, with his heart thumping fast in fear. The sound of a gunshot echoed through the quiet street.

One of the men in black approached Adrian, kneeling beside him. “ARE YOU OKAY? ARE YOU HURT?” he asked with a calm but urgent tone.

Adrian shook his head, as words couldn’t escape his mouth. He peered through the open space and found his pursuers lying on the floor helplessly.

“Who….Who are you?” Adrian stuttered.

“No time for questions; we are here to keep you safe.” The man retorted.

He helped Adrian to his feet as he was guided into the SUV. Shutting the door as the driver floored the accelerator. Tires screeched, and the vehicle sped away from the scene, leaving the bodies and chaos behind.

Adrian looked at the men who were with him, his head spinning. The man beside him handed him a bottle of water to calm his nerves. He nodded in appreciation, gulping down the content.

“You are lucky we found you; we are taking you somewhere safe.” He said calmly.

Adrian drew a deep breath, with his mind wallowing with questions. “Who are you? Why are you helping me?” he asked with a crackled tone.

“You will understand soon enough?” the man responded as he leaned on the chair.

He felt unease about everything as his mind ran through several conflicting thoughts. “Who are these men? Are they taking me to torture me? What if they are planning to kill me?” He thought in fear.

The SUV came to a halt before a sprawling mansion, Adrian looked through the window, his breath catching at the sight before him. The mansion was nothing short of a palace, a masterpiece with a fusion of modern sleekness and timeless grandeur. Its massive glass window reflects the shimmering light of the sprawling fountains.

“Where are we?” Adrian muttered, his voice tingling with awe.

The men stepped out of the car, With Adrian coming down as well. He was escorted through the towering doors that opened into the opulent foyers. A gleaming crystal chandelier hung from the vaulted ceiling, casting a rainbow across the marble floor.

Everywhere he looked, there were signs of unthinkable wealth, priceless paintings, and rare sculptures.

“This way please.”

Adrian trailed behind the man through the hallway; they passed several rooms filled with lavish furniture and walls lined with bookshelves.

They finally stopped in front of a double door; the man pushed the door open, and at the centre of the room sat an elderly man in an impeccably tailored suit. His posture was straight despite his age; you could tell he was working out, and his silver auto was slicked back. A cane rested by his side, though he hardly seemed to need it.

“Adrian.” The old man said, his voice deep. He smiled faintly, but his Sharp blue eyes studied Adrian intently

Adrian hesitated for a moment, “Do I know you? Who are you?”

The old man happens to be Adrian’s uncle, Simon Brown. He is the only surviving family member left of the brown. He lost his family to an accident two years ago, with no one to succeed him. And the company has been on his neck to get a successor.

He was head bent on getting any, not until he received news from his private investigator that he had found the long-lost son of his late brother, Noah.

“Who were those men who came to attack me earlier? Those have anything to do with me coming over here.” He asked; he was engulfed in fear, standing before the man and his men.

Simon was happy and had his men find Adrian; he gestured to a nearby chair. “Please, have a seat, son. We have much to discuss.”

Adrian inhaled softly, as he sat cautiously. There was a moment of silence between them. Mr. Simon winked at the guard to step outside leaving them for some private moment.

“I am Simon Brown, I am your uncle. Your father’s brother.”

Adrian blinked in shock and disbelief, “My uncle, my father? Who is my father and where is he?” He asked with a shaking voice.

“Calm down, I will explain everything to you.” He said, as he began to explain how it happened to Adrian who listened intently to his uncle.

“Your parents had an accident, and you were the only person that came out alive. I tried my best to find you, but all to no avail; our family has so many enemies. My family also died the same way, with no one left behind.” He paused, “Let’s say fate has a strange way of bringing people together.”

Adrian was speechless, unsure of what to do. “Why am I here?”

Simon gestured towards a decanter of whiskey on the side of the table; he poured a glass and offered it to Adrian, “You are here because you are the last of our bloodline; I have spent my life building empires, real estate, technology, shipping, and investment. Our family is among the biggest in the city and our empire is the largest in the world.”